Bend relief fenestration might prevent outflow graft obstruction in patients with left ventricular assist device.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Patients with left ventricular assist devices may experience external obstruction of the outflow graft through a gelatinous substance within the bend relief (BR; a stiff tube graft guiding the outflow graft). Preventative strategies have been missing. Having faced this problem, we decided to fenestrate the BR to avoid outflow graft obstruction (OGO).

Methods

Since December 2010, 167 patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation using HeartMate II or 3. BR fenestration was introduced on July 2018 (108 patients before, 59 after the introduction of BR fenestration). Follow-up computed tomography scans were obtained from all patients and were screened for OGO by 3 independent investigators. Results were correlated with log file history, echocardiograp

SUBMITTER: Farber G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9373956 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature